Look to the experts to identify the best beaches based on pleasant experience and safety.

Dr. Stephen Leatherman is known as Dr. Beach. Each year, he lists his picks for the best beaches in America based on 50 metrics of quality, including beach width, sand softness, midday air temperature, tides and currents, wildlife and vegetation, pests and dangers, and safety features. An ideal beach, using these metrics, would have a wide beach with soft sand, warm air and water temperatures, gentle tides, plentiful wildlife and natural vegetation (but few pests), lifeguards, and a good safety record. In 2004, the top ten beaches in the United States based on these metrics were Oahu Beach in Hawaii, Fort De Soto Park in Florida, Ocracoke Island in North Carolina, Caladesi Island State Park in Florida, Main Beach on Long Island (New York), Hanalei Bay in Kauai (Hawaii), Crescent Beach in Siesta Key (Florida), Coast Guard Beach at the Cape Cod National Seashore (Massachusetts), Cape Florida State Park, and Coronado Beach in California.